Lee Wages sentenced to time served, probation

A joint effort between Wahkiakum County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Bigelow, the defender, and law enforcement resulted in an exceptional sentence that they believe will be in the best interests of the community and Puget Island resident Lee Wages, 55, after he pled guilty to three counts in Superior Court on Monday.

Wages pled guilty to attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, and assault in the third degree.

Wages was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 24, according to his family. His wife, Anna, provided a stable environment for him and he never caused any trouble in all the years they were together. But when Anna died in 2016, he stopped taking his medication and started to go downhill. On March 21, 2018, Wages threatened his father and brother, and when three law enforcement officers arrived at his home for a welfare check, he fired shots at them. A SWAT team was called in and eventually they were able to apprehend Wages without anyone being harmed.

The first part of his exceptional sentence was well below the standard range for jail time. He was given six months, which he has already served. The second component is well above the standard range for community custody supervision. Wages will be supervised by the Department of Corrections for the next 15 years.

As part of the community custody supervision, Wages must report to and be available for contact with a corrections officer at any time; he cannot own a firearm or ammunition, he cannot consume or possess a controlled substance and he must take his medication. He must do all these things or risk harsher sentencing.